BEREA, Ohio -- A franchise in desperate need of a quarterback can have its pick of any in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Two months ago such a proposition would have seemed as delightful as it was improbable. Two weeks before the first choice is made the scenario is not only plausible, but potentially troublesome to Browns’ decision makers.

When the hype surrounding the latest crop of quarterbacks began to percolate in February some assumed Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, along with South Carolina defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney, would be off the board by the time the Browns selected at No. 4. The club would have to choose between Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater and prospects such as Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins and Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack.

That still might be the case when the general managers of Houston, St. Louis and Jacksonville – teams picking ahead of the Browns -- are forced to show their cards in America’s favorite televised poker game on May 8. But what if Browns GM Ray Farmer goes on the clock with the three talented and flawed quarterbacks all available? What if Watkins and Mack, two players who could help the franchise fill other playmaking roles, are gone through a pick or trade?

It would represent a tricky situation for a rookie general manager armed with lots of picks and, judging by the organization’s track record, little time to turn it around.

Farmer enjoyed a decent start to his tenure in free agency, adding respected veterans on defense, bolstering the running game, building depth at receiver and retaining All Pro center Alex Mack for at least two seasons. His first year, however, will be defined on what he does May 8 with the Nos. 4 and 26 picks.

The Browns need a quarterback and logic dictates one of those choices must be a quarterback. But which pick to use and which passer to select? Manziel? Bortles? Bridgewater? Derek Carr? Jimmy Garopollo? Aaron Murray? The decision makers at the top of the draft might as well be juggling porcupines.

“None of these guys blow me away,” four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw said on WTAM this week. Pressed for an answer, the NFL on FOX analyst chose Manziel, “but not in the first round.”

Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano calls drafting a quarterback the “ultimate crapshoot,” and this year’s field makes the task as challenging as ever. All of the top candidates have legitimate NFL potential. All of them could get his GM fired. Manziel with his lack of size and aversion to staying in the pocket. Bortles with questions about mechanics and readiness to play now. Bridgewater with his slight build and the most talk surrounding a football player wearing gloves since the days of Johnnie Cochran.

Adding to the struggle for clarity is the fact the league finds itself in a debate whether the multi-dimensional quarterback is a trend or fad. Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl in his second season. Robert Griffin III was too banged up to finish his second year.

There’s no sure thing at any position in a draft. Receivers and pass rushers can go bust just like a quarterback. The consequences for picking the wrong passer seem more punitive, though. Research from The Big Lead shows nine of the 14 general managers who selected quarterbacks in the first round from 2009-13 are no longer in the employ of that franchise. The sum includes Tom Heckert, who missed with Brandon Weeden in 2012.

It will be telling what the Houston Texans do with the No. 1 pick. The Texans need a quarterback and new coach Bill O’Brien, formerly of the New England Patriots and Penn State, is as astute as anyone in evaluating the position. Despite a dreadful 2013 season, the Texans have lots of pieces in place for another playoff run. If they pass on a signal caller it carries significant weight.

Choosing an offensive tackle (Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews) at No. 4 doesn’t make sense because you have too much money/assets invested in the line. It says here Khalil Mack and Watkins are better at what they do than any of the passers, but quarterback remains the Browns’ greatest need.

A year ago, the Browns were wise to pass on E.J. Manuel and Geno Smith, but the thinking was the 2014 class of quarterbacks would be better. And yet here we are ...

Pass on those top-tier guys and risk one of them becoming a star. Choose the wrong one and risk becoming another unemployed GM. You can argue nothing about these quarterbacks has changed since season’s end, but we all know draft stocks plummet and soar (hello, Tom Savage) in the draft buildup.

In two weeks, a team searching for a franchise quarterback could have its pick of the lot. Somehow, that proposition seemed much more appealing in February.

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